The Hamburglar was McDonaldland’s hamburger thief character.
The Hamburglar appeared as part of McDonald’s fictional McDonaldland cast, a group created for children’s advertising. His defining behavior was trying to steal hamburgers, especially McDonald’s signature Big Macs, while Ronald McDonald and other characters represented the restaurant’s friendly world.
The character’s appearance changed substantially over time. Early versions looked more like a small, mischievous adult burglar, while the later version became a child-sized figure in a black cape and striped clothing.
The Hamburglar is distinct from Grimace, whose identity is based on his purple appearance, and Mayor McCheese, whose design combines a mayoral costume with a cheeseburger head.